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Kate Beckinsale has blasted her critics – saying it seems “ridiculous” that she is scrutinised for having fun at the age of 46.

The Hollywood actress has recently had a string of younger boyfriends, and is currently in lockdown with 22-year-old musician Goody Grace.

The the pair having being pictured going on daily exercise hikes together.

Asked about “age versus expectations” by Women’s Health, she said: "It can feel like a little bit of a political act to be a woman over 32 who’s having any fun at all – ‘Oh my god, I’m going to sit home and anticipate menopause while crocheting.’

Kate Beckinsale has blasted her critics – saying it seems “ridiculous” that she is scrutinised for having fun at the age of 46 (Image: Getty)

"Unless you’re doing that, it somehow seems to be risqué, which is just ridiculous".

Comparing how she is treated compared to men, she said: "I witness men constantly doing whatever they like, whether in relationships, or deciding to buy a motorbike, or getting a tattoo.

"It hasn’t been interpreted as, ‘why hasn’t he had more children?’ or ‘is he ever going to decide to become a parent?’ or ‘why has he had so many girlfriends?’".

Kate, 46, looked stunning on the cover of Women's Health for May (Image: Women's Health)

Kate was previously in a relationship with actor Michael Sheen from 1995 to 2003 and they have a daughter Lily, 21.

She married director Len Wiseman in May 2004 after they fell in love on the set of 2003’s Underworld, which co- starred her then partner Michael.

Kate and Len divorced in 2016.

Kate Beckinsale (Image: ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/REX)

She believes many marriages would be more successful if the couples didnt live together. She said: “I think more people would do well married if they didn’t have to live in the same house.

"Being married is kind of easy, but the living-with-the-person thing is a lot.

“I also think, for women especially, and it is generalising, but it’s common for us to mentally subjugate our needs to whoever else is in the room.”

Kate feels “women are body-shamed 100 million per cent more than men” (Image: FilmMagic)

Kate also said she thinks “women are body-shamed 100 million per cent more than men”.

She has filmed a new movie called Jolt which is due out later this year.

Kate has been having fun in lockdown, putting flowers in her cat Clive’s fur and filming herself on Instagram doing ballet stretches.

The full interview with Kate appears in the June issue of Women’s Health, on sale now.